Indole-3-carbinol prevents diet-induced obesity through modulation of multiple genes related to adipogenesis, thermogenesis or inflammation in the visceral adipose tissue of mice.

Abstract

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a compound found in high concentrations in Brassica family vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, and is regarded as a promising chemopreventive agent against various cancers. This study assesses the protective effect of I3C against diet-induced obesity in mice. Mice were randomly grouped to receive either a normal diet, high-fat (40% energy as fat) diet (HFD) or I3C-supplemented diet (1 g/kg diet) for 10 weeks. I3C supplementation significantly ameliorated HFD-induced increases in body weight gain, visceral fat pad weights and plasma lipid levels. The visceral adipose tissue mRNA levels of uncoupling proteins 1 and 3, crucial factors of thermogenesis, and their regulators such as sirtuin 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α and PPARγ coactivator 1α, which were down-regulated by HFD, were normalized by supplementation with I3C. In contrast, I3C supplementation significantly decreased expression levels of a key adipogenic transcription factor, PPARγ2, and its target genes, such as leptin and adipocyte protein 2, in the visceral adipose tissue of mice maintained on the HFD. Furthermore, HFD-induced up-regulation in mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interferon β and interleukin 6) was significantly ameliorated by I3C. These findings suggest that I3C has a potential benefit in preventing obesity and metabolic disorders, and the action for I3C in vivo may involve multiple mechanisms including decreased adipogenesis and inflammation, along with activated thermogenesis.

• Authors: Youngshim Choi, Yunjung Kim, Soyoung Park, Ki Won Lee, Taesun Park
• Journal: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry (J Nutr Biochem) Vol. 23 Issue 12 Pg. 1732-9 (Dec 2012) ISSN: 1873-4847 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22569347 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Obesity Agents
• Indoles
• Lipids
• indole-3-carbinol

Topics

• 3T3-L1 Cells (drug effects)
• Adipogenesis (drug effects, genetics)
• Adipose Tissue (drug effects)
• Animals
• Anti-Obesity Agents (pharmacology)
• Cell Differentiation (drug effects)
• Diet, High-Fat (adverse effects)
• Dietary Supplements
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Indoles (pharmacology)
• Inflammation (genetics)
• Intra-Abdominal Fat (drug effects, metabolism)
• Lipids (blood)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Obesity (etiology, genetics, prevention & control)
• Thermogenesis (drug effects, genetics)